Today is day Alamo truly is remembered

By Scott Huddleston :
March 5, 2013
: Updated: March 6, 2013 7:12am

Sarah Martin, 22, of Arlington has a replica of the “victory or death” quote tattooed to her back. She was at the Alamo on Friday.

Photo By Robin Jerstad / For the San Antonio Express-News

Crowds have flocked to the Alamo this year to see the famed “victory or death” letter, on display there for the first time.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

The original letter written by Alamo commander Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis is seen at the Alamo on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo.

Photo By Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News

On Sunday, visitors to the Alamo were reported to have waited in line four hours to see the Travis letter.

Photo By Robin Jerstad/For the Express-News

The line formed early Friday to see the Alamo display of the famed William Barret Travis letter.

Photo By Photos by Robin Jerstad / For the San Antonio Express-News

Children look over a replica of the 18-pound cannon fired in response to Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna's demand for surrender of the Alamo.

Photo By William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

The famous "Victory or Death" letter penned on February 24, 1836 by William Barret Travis, Commander of the Texian rebels in the former mission known as the Alamo, is carried Friday Feb. 22, 2013 to the Alamo by Alamo Rangers. The letter is rturning to the Alamo for the first time since it was dispatched by Travis during the battle. It will be on display until March 7.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Alamo Rangers carry the historic document through the doors of the Alamo.

Photo By William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

The famous "Victory or Death" letter penned on February 24, 1836 by William Barret Travis, Commander of the Texian rebels in the former mission known as the Alamo, is carried Friday Feb. 22, 2013 to the Alamo by Alamo Rangers. The letter is rturning to the Alamo for the first time since it was dispatched by Travis during the battle. It will be on display until March 7.

Photo By William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

The famous "Victory or Death" letter penned on February 24, 1836 by William Barret Travis, Commander of the Texian rebels in the former mission known as the Alamo, is carried Friday Feb. 22, 2013 to the Alamo by Alamo Rangers. The letter is rturning to the Alamo for the first time since it was dispatched by Travis during the battle. It will be on display until March 7.

Photo By William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

The famous "Victory or Death" letter penned on February 24, 1836 by William Barret Travis, Commander of the Texian rebels in the former mission known as the Alamo, is carried Friday Feb. 22, 2013 to the Alamo by Alamo Rangers. The letter is rturning to the Alamo for the first time since it was dispatched by Travis during the battle. It will be on display until March 7.

An honor guard carries the Travis Letter to the Alamo Friday afternoon.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

A crate holding the letter written by Alamo commander Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis is carried toward the Alamo during a ceremony to mark its return on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo.

An honor guard carries the Travis Letter to the Alamo Friday afternoon.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Members of the Alamo Rangers carry a crate that contains the historic document as The Ross Volunteer Company of Texas A&M University create an arch with their sabers.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Members of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce hold a "Gonzales Flag" during the ceremony.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Reenactors stand guard waiting for the historic document to arrive.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Will Travis, left, Denton County Sheriff, and fifth great nephew of William Barret Travis, chats with Karen Thompson President General of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, center, with Jerry Patterson, right, Texas Land Commissioner.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

The fifth-great nephew of Alamo commander William Barret Travis, Denton County Sheriff William Barrett Travis (left) reads his great uncle's letter as the document is carried toward the Alamo during a ceremony to mark its return on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo. On stage with Travis was Karen Thompson, president-general of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (center) and Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Thompson.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Will Travis, left, Denton County Sheriff, the fifth great nephew of William Barret Travis, and Michael Waters, Chairman Texas State Library and Archives Commission wait for the ceremony to begin.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013.

People claim seats early in anticipation of the Travis letter's arrival.

John Tyler, dressed as a New Orleans gray sergeant, will be part of the color guard that will lead the Travis letter back into the Alamo.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Lynn Jones from Mequite hoists a video camera to record the return of the letter written by Alamo commander Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis to the Alamo during a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo. "I've been looking forward to this (moment). It's awesome. I'm probably going to tear up (upon seeing the document)," said Jones.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

The William Barret Travis Letter, requesting help to defend the Alamo, returned to the Alamo for the first time since it was sent in 1836. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. A drummer of the US Army 36th Infantry Division Band waits for the historic document to arrive.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Lynn Jones from Mequite walks on the ground of the Alamo before a ceremony to mark the return of the letter written by Alamo commander Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis to the Alamo on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo. "I've been looking forward to this (moment). It's awesome. I'm probably going to tear up (upon seeing the document)," said Jones.

Chet Garner, host of The Daytripper travel show on PBS, shoots a scene in front of the Alamo. Garner and the crew are in town on letter weekend by coincidence.

Barricades are up in anticipation of the letter's return this afternoon.

Chairs are set up in from the Alamo in preparation for the Travis letter's return.

A sound board is plugged in in preparation for the arrival of the Travis letter.

The red carpet is positioned for the arrival of the Travis letter.

Crews set up audio/visual equipment in front of the Alamo in preparation for the arrival of Travis' 'victory or death' letter.

Crews set up equipment in front of the Alamo in preparation for the arrival of Travis' 'victory or death' letter.

Crews set up audio/visual equipment Friday morning in front of the Alamo in preparation for the arrival of Travis' 'victory or death' letter.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

A truck carrying the crate holding the letter written by Alamo commander Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis arrives at the Alamo before a ceremony to mark its return on Friday, Feb. 22. 2013. The famous "victory or death" letter written by Travis that had been kept in Austin until now will be put on display at the Alamo for 13 days starting on Saturday to commemorate the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo.

More Information

Anniversary events

Dawn at the Alamo: Ceremony honoring the fallen on both sides of the March 6, 1836, predawn battle starts at 6 a.m. in Alamo Plaza.

Afternoon ceremony: Annual tribute set for 2:30 p.m. in the plaza will include a keynote address, historical readings, a prayer of remembrance and tolling of a bell for each of the 13 days of the siege.

Musket blasts at dawn and an outdoor ceremony this afternoon will herald the 177th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo, as the largest exhibit at the site in recent years begins to wind down.

While little has changed in annual observances of the battle, the return to the Alamo of commander William Barret Travis' “victory or death” letter makes this year's events likely to stand out in memory.

Sarah Martin, one of some 20,000 people to have seen the letter on display for the first time at the battle site, said she was moved by the passion of the young commander, who vowed, “I shall never surrender or retreat,” despite leading a badly outnumbered force.

“I had tears in my eyes, imagining what he felt as he wrote that letter,” said Martin, 22, of Arlington. “It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Ceremonies today commemorate the chaotic predawn assault of March 6, 1836, that ended in the deaths of at least 189 Alamo defenders, with some 300 to 500 Mexican troops killed or wounded. Three weeks later, 342 Texans would be executed at Goliad.

But on April 21, 1836, Texian forces, including Tejanos who fought with cardboard markers in their hats to avoid being seen as the enemy, defeated Mexican forces at San Jacinto.

The 13-day Travis letter exhibit, which runs through 5:30 p.m. Thursday, has reignited debate over Alamo Plaza, which functions as an urban square. Some say it should be treated with more reverence.

About 100 members of the international Alamo Society who gathered last weekend for a local symposium spoke of a petition drive supporting transfer of the city-owned plaza to the state.

Although the city is considering whether to close the plaza to traffic, history buffs said the process is moving too slowly.

Society members said they especially oppose use of land where Travis kept his command headquarters by amusement attractions in the plaza. They hope Texans will spur action to regulate use of those properties.

“We need to get Texans here, in and outside of San Antonio, inspired and active,” said Glenn Effler, an Alamo enthusiast who lives in Colorado.

Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, senior mission commander at Fort Sam Houston, is set to give a keynote address at today's 2:30 p.m. ceremony in the plaza.

The ceremony, normally held in the Alamo chapel, was moved outside because of this year's special exhibit.

Last week, Caldwell revealed plans to retire this summer, to become president of Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga.

As commander of U.S. Army North, Caldwell has overseen changes at the historic Quadrangle, including plans to move the post museum to the 1870s square.

The Army's ties to San Antonio are rooted at the Alamo, where a roof, second floor and the chapel's now-famous parapet facade were added to the mission-era church for use as quartermaster depot in the mid-1800s.